Philippines suspends decision to scrap troop agreement with U.S., minister says
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte speaks at the Malacanang presidential palace, in Manila, Philippines, on May 28, 2020.Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has suspended his decision to scrap a two-decade-old troop deployment agreement with the United States due to political and other developments in the region, his foreign minister said on Tuesday.
Foreign Secretary Teodoro Locsin said the news that the Philippines was no longer abandoning the pact was well received by the United States.The mercurial Duterte, known for his stinging rebukes of Western powers, has clashed with Washington over numerous issues and has been open about his disdain for his country’s most important diplomatic ally and main provider of military hardware and training.
The VFA provides the legal framework for which U.S. troops can operate on a rotational basis in the Philippines and experts say without it, their other bilateral defence agreements cannot be implemented. The official reason for Duterte’s withdrawal was to enable the Philippines to diversify its foreign relations.“Our long-standing alliance has benefited both countries, and we look forward to continued close security and defence co-operation with the Philippines,” it said.
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